Device for carbonating liquids in bottles



Oct. 22, 1935'.

G. F. SUGDEN DEVICE FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES Filed Dec. 16, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet -1 Oct. 22, 1935. G F DEN 2,018,424

' DEVICE FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES Filed Dec. 16, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' Oct. 22, 1935. I SUGDEN 2,018,424

DEVICE FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES Filed Dec. 16, 1955 ,5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES Application December 16, 1933, Serial N0. 702,829 In Great Britain December 19, 1932 8 Claims. (Cl. 226--67) This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for carbonating liquids in bottles.

The main object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will enable a number of bottles in succession to be supported in the upright position and to be brought into gas-tight engagement with the gas delivery device while enabling the gas delivery tube from the gas delivery device to extend downwardly within the bottle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will enable a number of Crown cork bottles in succession to be held supported by their necks in the upright position and to be brought into gas-tight engagement with 16' the gas delivery device while enabling the gas delivery tube from the gas delivery device to extend downwardly within the bottle.

According to one feature of the invention this is accomplished by mounting the gas delivery 20 device so that it can be pivoted or otherwise moved in. a direction outwardly from the bottle holding device. Upon displacement of the gas delivery device outwardly the gas delivery tube can be inserted in the bottle, the bottle placed in posi- 25 tion on or in the bottle holder and the bottle and gas delivery device approximated towards each other to provide gas-tight engagement.

According to a further feature of the invention the bottle holding device is adapted to be dis- 30 placed outwardly with respect to the gas delivery device. Thus it is possible to place the bottle in position beneath the gas delivery device with the gas delivery tube extending downwardly therein and then to displace the bottle-holding 35 device beneath or around a part of the bottle so as to support it and finally to approximate the bottle and gas delivery device towards each other so as to provide a gas-tight joint.

Another important feature 01' the invention 40 consists in making the gas delivery device displaceable towards the bottle so that a gas-tight seal is obtained by displacement of the gas delivery device while the bottle is maintained stationary in or on the holding device.

45 In the modification of the invention in which the gas delivery device is made outwardly displaceable for the purpose of enabling the gas delivery tube to be inserted in the bottle, the bottle may be held either at its base or by its neck.

50 The holding of the bottle by its neck, however, is a further important feature of the invention and is believed to be broadly novel in apparatus of this kind. The employment of means for holding the bottle by the neck in conjunction with 55 a gas-delivery device which can be swung outwardly of the bottle neck holding device enables the apparatus to be used for bottles of different heights which have a standard size of neck, for example Crown cork bottles, without any alteration in the construction or arrangement oi the I machine.

The gas delivery device may in any oi the modifications of the invention, comprise a gas chamber having a valve for admission 01 carbon dioxide under pressure and a valve for release 10 to the atmosphere for the purpose of shifting the contents of the gas chamber, if desired. Thus a two-way valve may be employed which in one position is closed, in a second position allows carbon dioxide to be fed to the gas chamber and delivery pipe, and in a third position allows the gas chamber to be in communication with the atmosphere. Such a type of valve in conjunction with a gas chamber is known of itself for the purpose of carbonating liquids.

One preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hand apparatus,

Figure 2 is .a side elevation of the same apparatus showing a bottle of the Crown cork type being inserted therein,

Figure 3 is a front elevation corresponding to Figure .2 but showing the bottle held by its neck,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same apparatus showing the gas delivery device brought down into sealing engagement with the lip of the bottle which is held by its neck, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4.

Figures 6 to 13 are detailed views on a different scale. Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged plan views of the bottle neck holding device in its open and closed positions respectively,

Figure 3 shows foot-operated means, and

Figure 9 shows cam operated means .Ior bring- 40 mg the gas delivery device into sealing engagement with the lip 10f a bottle,

Figure 10 is a side elevation, and

Figure '11 isa plan view of a displaceable platform for the bottle, and

Figure 12 is a. side elevation partly in section of a bottle platform which is adjustable as to height,

Figure 1.3 is an elevation showing the counting device.

Referring now to Figures :1-5 of the drawings the machine is mounted on a back plate I which may be of wood or metal and is adapted to be hung upon a wall or otherwise secured thereto, for examp-1e with the aid of the plate 2. Wings 3 project forwardly at right angles to the sides of the base I and are suitably secured thereto, for example by screws 4. The gas delivery device has trunnions 6 working in slots 1 in the wings 3 and is supported by springs 1| secured to the wings 3 and is also provided with pins 8 projecting through slots 9 in the wings 3. The upper sides of the pins 8 contact with the under-faces of a pair of levers Ill pivoted to the .base at H and connected together at their outer ends by a handle 7 |2. A pair of catch levers l3 pivoted to the basel at I4 are connected at their outer ends by a catch strip l5 adapted'to engage with a serrated portion I6 01 the levers l0. p

. Beneath the gas delivery device 5 there is provided a bottle neck holding device l1 secured to the base 1 This is illustrated in greater detail in Figures 6 and 7. There is also provided a platform |8 also secured to the base and. either the neck holdingdevice |1'or the platform l8 may be used ior supporting a bottle beneath the gas delivery device 5.- The platform |8 may be adapted to be secured in various positions on the base I according to the size of the bottle to beheld.

Hingedly secured to the lower part of the base 'at H! is a cover 20 which may be swung outwardly and downwardly as shown in Figure 2. A

displace it out of engagement with the pins 8. a a

i Projecting from the lower end of the gas delivery device is a tube 28 which'communicateswith the hollow interior thereof. A pressure gas tu'be 21passes through the gas delivery device 5 and through the tube terminating in a fine nozzle 29. The upper end of the tube 21 is connected through valve 3| providedwith handle 32,.with a pipe 33 adapted to be connected to a cylinder or other source of carbon dioxide under pressure, for example by coupling 30. A shift pipe 34 communicates with the upper part of the gas delivery device 5 through a snift valve 35 and is connected to aspray trap 36 which is in communication with the atmosphere. 7

- The snift; control valve 35 is adapted to be openedby a spring controlled press button 31.

The tube 28 is surrounded by a sleeve 38 in which is housed a washer 39 of rubber or the like flexible material adapted to effect sealing engagement with the lip of'a bottle 40 placed there- 'beneath. A counter 4| adapted' to beactuated by movement of one or the trunnions 6 is mounted on one or the wings 3 to register the number of movements of the gas delivery device 5.

' Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 the neck-hold-' ing device comprises a plate member 42 provided at its front with a cutaway portion 43. .To the plate member 42 are pivotally securedby the studs 44 smaller plate members 45 which themselves have cutaway portions 46. Stops 41 are provided on the plate member 42 to limit the ro- .tation oi theplate members 45.' In the position 7 shown in Figure 6 the cutaway portions or the 'to admit the neck 48 of the bottle but in the position shown in Figure 7 the edgesoi' the cut-' away portionsf46 are adapted to engage with the a plate members 45 present an'opening wide enough underside or thebulge 49 above the neck 48 of thebottle'fll. .1 g r The counter 4| is shown more clearly in Figure 13. The spindle 12 is provided with a projection 13 adaptedto be held up by washer 14 on the end 7 of trunnion 6 projecting through wing 3. A ten-g sion spring 15 secured to wing 3 by screw 16 and 5 to spindle 12 by screw 11 rotates the spindle in an anti-clockwise direction each time the trunning 5 is lowered. The upward movement of the trunnion 6 restores the spindle 12 to its normal posie tion.

The operation of the device illustrated in Figures 1-7 is as follows. Referring to Figure 2 the cover is swung down and the bottle 40 filled with liquid to be carbonated is slid around the tube 21 and then pressed into engagement wit 15 the plates 45 of the neck holding device I1. This causes the plats '45 to rotate into the position shown in Figure 7 when the bottle is held as shown in Figure 3; During the inward move ment of the bottle 40 into the neck holding'device 50 H the gas delivery device 5 is swung from the position shown in Figure 2 into the position shown' in Figure 1. Meanwhile, however, the pins 8 which were held by the left hand portion of the slots .9 on the wings 3 are now held by the slot 24 35 i in the swinging catch plate 22. The cover 20 is then swung up into position and the edge displaces the catch plate 22.from engagement with the pin 8. A downward movement of the handle I2 carrying with it the levers II) which hear so.

against the pins 8, presses the gas delivery device 5 down until the washer 39 is in sealing engagement with the lip 50 of the bottle 40. V i n The V-shaped strip 2| engages the front race 01' the cover 20, holding it in position. Meanwhile the catch levers fall outwards by gravity until the catch strip l 5 engages with theserrations l6 in the levers l0, locking these levers'in position.

The handle 32 of the gas valve 3| is now rotated anticlockwise so that carbon dioxide under pressure passes through the tube 21 and nozzle 29 into the liquid in the bottle 40. When suflicient gas has been introduced the handle 32 is rotated in a clockwise direction to close the valve 3|. The press button 31 01' the snirting valve is then pressed and the surplus gas escapes from the bottle through the pipe 28 and the hollow space in the vessel 5. Any spray is trapped in the trap 36.

It will be seen that the gas delivery device 5 is locked in sealing engagement with the bottle 4D.

and the cover 29 is locked in position in front of the bottle 20 while the valves are being manipulated. V

When the snift valve has been opened the handle I2 is pressed down sufiiciently to release the cross member I5 and the levers l3 are then pressed back. The springs 1| lift the gas deliv ery device 5 out of engagement with the bottle 40 carrying with it the levers l0. member 2| is raised from engagement with the front face of the front cover 20 and the latter can then be dropped again into the position shownin Figure 2 permitting the bottle 40 to be withdrawn and sealed with a Crown cork orthe like. be seen that on removal of the bottle from the neck holding device, the said device is left in the,

. open position shown in Figure 6 ready for reception of the next. bottle. A light spring 5| may, it desired, be provided to enable the plates 45 of the neck holding device |1 to-be maintained normally in the open position but this is notessential.

In the case where the bottle 40 is not provided with a bulge 49 by which it can be retained in the neck holding device H the platform l8 maybe 15 The V -shaped 30 utilized to support the bottle by its base. The platform I8 may be arranged to be adjustable into different positions on the base I or can be arranged to be displaced laterally therefrom as shown in Figures 10 and 11. base 83 is mounted in a bracket 52, secured to base I, by pins 53 engaging with slots 78 and pins 19 engaging with recesses 80. By means of handle 8| pins 19 can be lifted out of recesses 80 and pins 53 moved along slots 18 until the platform 83 can drop into the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 10. Alternatively as shown in Figure 12 a fixed bottom 54 may be secured to the base I carrying the cover 20 pivoted at 55 and having a threaded aperture 56 through which passes a threaded rod 51 carrying at its upper end the platform 84 which may be fitted to the casing 20. To the lower end of the threaded rod 51 is secured a hand wheel 58 for rotation thereof to raise and lower the platform 84.

If desired also the manually operated handle I2 and the catch levers l3 may be replaced by the foot operated device shown in Figure 8 which comprises an elongated saddle member 59 pivotally secured to the levers I 3. Alternatively levers 82 may be provided as shown in Figure 9 which are adapted to be pressed down by eccentrics 60 pivotally secured to the wings 3 by pins 6| and rotatable by levers 62, 63.

I declare that what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for carbonating liquids in bottles comprising means for supporting a bottle in an upright position, a gas delivery device mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis and move in a vertical direction, a gas delivery tube projecting downwardly therefrom and adapted to be inserted within said bottle when said gas delivery device is swung outwardly on its horizontal axis from above said bottle supporting means and adapted to extend within said bottle when swung over said bottle supporting means, a shield adapted to cover said bottle when held by said supporting means and means for pressing said gas delivery device downwardly into gas-tight engagement with the lip of said bottle when held by said supporting means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said shield is adapted to be secured against displacement from the open front face of said casing by a locking device operated by said gas delivery device in its downward movement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said gas delivery device has an annular resilient washer surrounding said downwardly projecting gas delivery tube adapted to contact with the lip of the bottle for sealing said gas delivery device into gas-tight engagement with said lip.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the bottle in the up- In these figures the right position comprises a pair of flat plates independently pivoted to move in a common plane and having arcuate cut-out portions adapted when face to face substantially to surround the neck of said bottle and to engage with the under- 5 side of the bulge on said neck and when displaced to permit said neck to be withdrawn laterally from between said cut-out portions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including valve means associated with said gas delivery de- 10 vice to enable said gas delivery device to be put into communication with a source of carbon dioxide under pressure or into communication with the atmosphere.

6. An apparatus for carbonating liquids in bottles comprising means for supporting a bottle in an upright position, a gas delivery device, pivotal about a horizontal axis and downwardly displaceable in a plane through the axis, a gas delivery tube projecting downwardly from said gas delivery device and adapted to extend within said bottle when held by said supporting means, and means for pressing said gas delivery device downwardly into gas-tight engagement with the lip of said bottle when held by said supporting means.

7. Apparatus for carbonating liquids in bottles comprising means for supporting a bottle in an upright position, a gas delivery device mounted above said supporting means, a gas delivery tube projecting downwardly from said gas delivery device and adapted to extend within said bottle when held by said supporting means, a casing to receive and hold said bottle when held, having an open front face. a shield adapted to cover said open front face, and to be secured against displacement from the open front face of said casing by a locking device operated by said gas delivery device, and means to press said gas delivery device downwardly into sealing engagement with the lip of said bottle when held by said supporting means.

8. Apparatus for carbonating liquids in bottles comprising means for supporting a bottle in an upright position consisting of means to substantially surround the neck of the bottle and engage with the bulge thereabove, a gas delivery device mounted above said supporting means, a. gas delivery tube projecting downwardly from said gas delivery device and adapted to extend within said bottle when held by said supporting means,

a casing to receive and hold said bottle when held, having an open front face, a shield adapted to cover said open front face, and means to press said gas delivery device downwardly into sealing 5g, engagement with the lip of said bottle when held by said supporting means.

GEORGE FRANCIS SUGDEN. 

